Senator Mary Seery-Kearney

Dr James Reilly TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs today opened a consultation with young people (aged 13-17) seeking their views on theperson specification for the recruitment of the Ombudsman for Children.

Fine Gael Party Chairman and President of the Irish Association of Suicidology, Dan Neville TD, yesterday attended the launch of the #littlethings, mental health and wellbeing social marketing campaign. This campaign is being run by the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention in partnership with over 20 other organisations.

Fine Gael Dublin MEP, Brian Hayes, has said that Ireland can become a breakout country with a decade of strong growth. He was speaking today (Monday) at a Public Seminar in DCU entitled “European Economic Policy - What's in it for Ireland?” MEP Hayes took the opportunity to discuss Ireland’s economic relationship with the EU and to discuss where we go from here.

The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Joe McHugh TD, has today (Monday), welcomed the announcement by Randox Teoranta that they are investing €25m in their Dungloe plant, with the potential of increasing jobs from 66 to 540 by 2020.

Deputies, it is clear that this Government’s plan for economic recovery is working, and the economy is moving in the right direction. The core aim of this year’s budget is to secure and solidify that recovery. However, we are aware that the economic recovery remains fragile. This Government’s determination to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated has meant that some difficult choices have had to be made in framing this budget.

Distinguished Guests, members of the Oireachtas, colleagues. I am very pleased to be here today at this event to mark EU Anti- trafficking Day, which falls tomorrow, the eighteenth (18th) of October.

Fine Gael Senator for Louth, Jim D’Arcy, has been appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee of the Council of Europe, of which he is a member, for the observation of the legislative elections in Ukraine, which take place on Sunday 26th October 2014.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan TD, and Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion, and North- South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock TD, have welcomed the opportunity this afternoon for key Departmental officials to brief NGO partners on the latest developments in the Ebola crisis.

DublinTown, the collective of 2,500 businesses in Dublin city centre, today launches a new Group Waste Scheme for city centre businesses, promising to cut waste collection charges by up to 20%, while offering businesses greater control over their waste management service.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe T.D., today (Thursday) announced that he has agreed arrangements with his UK counterpart, Minister John Hayes MP, for light dues paid by ships coming into ports in Ireland and the United Kingdom from April 2015.